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Fibromyalgia

Overview and Facts

Fibromyalgia is a painful persistent condition distinguished by tenderness in your muscles, tendons and ligaments, but there is also the feeling of being tired all the time and several sore areas all over your body. Fibromyalgia affects less than 3 percent of the people in the United States. Physicians have noticed a higher percentage in women who are affected by Fibromyalgia than in men.

Signs and Symptoms

Signs and symptoms of fibromyalgia can differ, depending on the several factors including the weather, stress, physical activity and the time of day. Fibromyalgia is explained as a continuous ache, usually occurring in the muscles. The pain has to happen on both sides of your body. The pain has to be above and below the waist as well. Fibromyalgia is distinguished by extra pain when touched in certain areas of your body, called tender points. These tender point areas are between shoulder blades, upper chest, upper hips, inner knees, sides of hips, top of shoulders, front sides of neck, back of the head, outer elbows. Fibromyalgia patients frequently wake up exhausted, although they look like they get adequate of sleep. Specialist believes these patients hardly ever reach the REM stage in sleep. Sleep apnea and Restless leg syndrome is also a symptom of Fibromyalgia. People who have fibromyalgia can have rheumatoid arthritis, depression, chronic fatigue syndrome, endometriosis, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), headaches, lupus, post-traumatic stress disorder, osteoarthritis, restless legs syndrome.

Causes and Diagnosis

There has not been a discovery of what causes a person to get fibromyalgia, but it is believed that many factors contribute to it. Fibromyalgia has family tendencies because there are certain genetic changes which make you more vulnerable to developing fibromyalgia. Infections could also be a trigger of fibromyalgia. Post-traumatic stress is another disorder associated with fibromyalgia. Researchers believe the brain is sending the signals to the tender areas or points making the patient feel or think they feel more pain. The patients with fibromyalgia usually have a low tolerates for pain than most people. As this is continuously the brain’s receptors develop a kind of recall of the pain causing it to become more susceptible to exaggerate the pain signals. The fibromyalgia diagnosis is usually determined when the pain is consistent for three months and there are more than 11 positive tender areas out of the 18 which are possible.

Tests and Treatments

Your doctor may order Blood tests to determine some of the other symptoms which accompany fibromyalgia. Some of the blood test will be for complete blood count, Erythrocyte sedimentation rate and thyroid function tests. Physicians usually check certain areas for tenderness. Then, usually determines whether it is fibromyalgia if he finds the 18 tender points to be extremely painful to the slightest touch.

Helpful Tips and Home Remedies

Many fibromyalgia patients use home remedies. There are many alternative treatments for fibromyalgia. Many find managing the symptoms or other complaints not easy. More and more people are relying on medical herbs or natural supplements to help treat the symptoms of fibromyalgia.
There is a supplement called 5-HTP, which is a building block of serotonin, an extremely powerful chemical found in the brain. It has been proven that serotonin has connection with depression and sleeping. This many help patients with fibromyalgia get the deep sleep and reduce the level of pain. Fibromyalgia patients may enjoy some relief from the pain by getting a massage, using medication, seeking acupuncture or even seeing a chiropractor. Diet can affect or help the fibromyalgia patient, but it varies with each individual. Exercise to help keep you in shape will help. Exercise will keep a person strong and lithe. Researchers have shown the amount of endorphins rises when a person is active. In order to better handle the symptoms of fibromyalgia try limiting the stress surrounding the patient. Have them soak in a warm bath to relieve pain and get exercise on a regular basis.